John Baron MP helps launch new Parliamentary group on Vascular Disease

MP calls for increased vascular disease awareness

On Wednesday in the Houses of Parliament, John Baron MP attended the launch of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vascular Disease. The Group brings together MPs and Peer from all political parties to raise the profile of vascular disease and to improve outcomes for patients. The Health Minister, Rt Hon Simon Burns MP, was also present at the launch reception.

 Vascular disease affects the arteries which supply blood, oxygen and nutrients to the body from the heart.  It affects four million people in the UK and accounts for 200,000 preventable deaths each year. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms are the third biggest killer of men over 65 and Peripheral Arterial Disease is the most common cause of lower limb amputation in the UK.

 The Group Chairman Neil Carmichael MP said,

 “We hope to promote the care of patients with vascular disease, to improve patient outcomes and to improve patient access to new, innovative techniques and technology.”

John said,

 “Awareness of vascular disease is too low, and I support the aim of the Group to highlight this issue in Parliament and elsewhere.”

 “The NHS operates an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening programme which has been ongoing since 2009. If an undetected aneurysm bursts, the survival rate is between 6 – 22%. However, elective surgery to remove a detected aneurysm has an excellent survival rate of 95%.”

 “I would urge all men over 65 who have missed out on the screening programme to contact their GP.”

 Ends

Word Count: 258

Date: 24^rd April 2012

 Notes to Editors:

• For further information, please contact the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme on 01452 318 844